Coral bleaching: Have you tried the innovative ‘Blue Carbon’?

The iconic and breathtakingly beautiful coral reefs that are found around the world are truly a sight to behold. They are diverse underwater ecosystems that harbour some of the worlds most fantastic, joyous and in some instances deadly species. The Great Barrier Reef (photo in set) is colossal. I’m sure that it has made the bucket list of many people, some of you reading this may have been lucky enough to have seen it for yourself. However, much like a number of Earth’s natural wonders, human agency seems to lead to its destruction..

“Coral bleaching is something that happens when corals become stressed causing them to expel the algae that live within their tissues.”

These endosymbionts provide corals with the carbohydrates (via photosynthesis) they need to survive. This expulsion of algae causes the coral to turn white (hence the term ‘bleaching’), and while in this bleached state the coral are left vulnerable and may never recover.

It is this rise in carbon dioxide that is decimating coral reefs around the world, in particular the Great Barrier Reef, where it was recently discovered that up to 93% of the reef is already affected by some degree of bleaching, with some areas expected to never fully recover. It therefore seems logical to suggest that reducing the release of carbon dioxide should be the primary focus and it is critical that current levels are managed.

Geo-engineering involves a range of techniques for large scale intervention in the Earth’s natural systems to try to combat climate change. An exciting new concept is to preserve and enhance currant vegetated costal systems – specifically salt marshes, seagrass beds and mangrove forests. The ability of these systems to isolate and store away carbon dioxide is immense when compared to terrestrial forests. This is a result of their efficiency in trapping suspended matter and is what is being referred to as Blue Carbon. The destruction of these systems is a double-edged blade, in that it not only reduces the storage of carbon dioxide, but it also triggers the release of more carbon dioxide, which is bad news for corals. Thus, it goes without saying that the conservation of these systems is critical.

With such a damaging process as coral bleaching, it would be unwise to simply rest on ones laurels. Thus the active enhancement of these systems should be implemented so that they can actively remove this gas from the atmosphere and help to slow the effects of climate change, and its devastating effect on reefs.

Projects such as ‘The Blue Carbon Initiative’ and ‘The Ocean Foundation’ work to keep and restore these environments, helping to solve this climate change issue and to promote healthier marine ecosystems. This bioengineering technique could be the solution that the world has been looking for, and critically, a solution that seems to offer only benefits.

The support of large organisations and governments could grow these projects, and with the potential that these systems hold, we could see the recovery of one of the most beautiful sights available, and one of the Earth’s natural wonders.

6 thoughts on “Coral bleaching: Have you tried the innovative ‘Blue Carbon’?”

I find this to be a very enlightening post, because my knowledge of marine ecosystems is poor. However, I do know that in some areas coastal mangrove forests are considered to be excellent buffers against the increasing storms and rising ocean levels brought about by climate change. It would thus seem that preserving those habitats is of critical importance.

Absolutely, you are correct, not to mention that mangroves are the breeding and nursery grounds for a number of species (some of which are very commercially important) and humans rely on mangroves for a number of other uses.

This is the point i was trying to make in that the conservation (or active development, as we see with reforestation programmes) of these environments seems to offer only benefits!

Vince Vince Vince… those are MUTANTS not ALIENS. Yes, there are alien artifacts located inside the Pyramid Mines on Mars, but those vagina-faced people in those pictures are mutants. These mutations were brought about when Cohaagen, the evil diiattor-lcke ruler of Mars, built cheap domes which filter the light and air poorly.

SORRY MY ENGLISH, IÂ´m from Spain, and I guess this because IÂ´m a huge fan of Johnny: Penelope Cruz FILM: “DONÂ´T MOVE”. A true story between Johnny Depp and Penelope from 2000 when they filmed Blow. Johnny will be dead the next day to finish filmming? Pirates 5, with 49 like George Young after finished his conviction. Penelope is the black pearl and his true love. He was a skunk, and Penelope revenge to him been a prostitute, she wasnÂ´t a prostitute in 2000. TOM (GAY) CRUISE HELPED PENELOPE.